Why is my Dracaena fragrans wrinkling?

Question

I have a Dracaena fragrans (corn plant) which is dying. I originally purchased it just over a year ago, when a similar plant I had (Yucca elephantisis) died in a similar manner. Basically, what happens is that the new growth on the cane starts to turn brown and dry out from the bottom upward. I originally had 3 canes, and now I'm down to a single cane with a healthy growth on it. I just saw yesterday that the growth is now starting to turn brown at the base, which indicates it will soon exhibit the same signs and dry out/die.

I'm not sure what I'm doing incorrectly. At first, I thought I was over-watering the plants. I watered it about once every other week, with enough water to saturate the soil. I then made sure that it could drain by adding a bit of sand to the base of the pot, and putting fresh soil over this, which I did last summer (July, I think), so it was last re-potted in July of 2011.

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong with this plant... I can't seem to keep it alive! Could you help me figure out what I'm doing wrong?

Answer 1

Ed has correctly diagnosed the symptoms. Other facts about the Mass Cane are that it dies from the roots upwards. New growth is the last to go when the roots are dead. Your problem may be buying a poorly rooted plant.

This plant is commonly grown in Costa Rica. When a tree reaches twenty or thirty feet tall it is cut into lengths with a chain saw. These are shipped to Florida, potted up and then sold to you anywhere from three months to a year later.

If you buy a new plant where the canes are loose in the soil then you are buying a poor risk. The roots are probably no more than a few inches long. Another growing practice that affects health and you cannot see is the number of months under shade cloth and how much shade cloth.

The faster a grower can get a plant to market the more money in their pocket. Yet a plant grown outside in Florida adapts poorly to the light levels in northern climates. Growers should move plants from high light levels to lower light levels to adapt them. How much they do is not guaranteed.

To keep a plant alive buy good quality stock:

• well rooted
• free from spider mites
• and grow it in a brightly lit area

Once they established they are incredibly tough plants. They will even grow in solid clay in dim light.

Answer 2

If the cane gets soft, that's a sign of overwatering.

If the leaves get droopy but perk up when you water, it's underwatered.

Dracaenas are very sensitive to flouride, boron, and (other) soluble salts, from tap water, superphosphate fertilizer, or perlite. If water seems likely to be the problem, switch to another water source, such as distilled water, or other bottled water if you can find an assay of what's in it. You can find reference to this problem many places on the web, including here.